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Safe Harbour
Sophie and Hugh are left homeless when their house is bombed during the London Blitz. Their mother is seriously injured and their Dad is away fighting, so the children are sent to their grandfather in Ireland. Sophie is scared - they have never met grandfather but his letters cause such trouble in the house, and their Dad never speaks of him.
How will they live in a strange country, with a man who probably hates them - and will the family ever be together again?
How will they live in a strange country, with a man who probably hates them - and will the family ever be together again?
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
6 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Marita Conlon-McKenna
30 books223 followersBorn in Dublin in 1956 and brought up in Goatstown, Marita went to school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, later working in the family business, the bank, and a travel agency. She has four children with her husband James, and they live in the Stillorgan area of Dublin.
Marita was always fascinated by the Famine period in Irish history and read everything available on the subject. When she heard a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period being found under a hawthorn tree, she decided to write her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree.
Published in May 1990, the book was an immediate success and become a classic. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Bahasa, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils. It has been made a supplementary curriculum reader in many schools and is also used by schools in Northern Ireland for EMU (Education through Mutual Understanding) projects. It was also filmed by Young Irish Film Makers, in association with RTÉ and Channel 4. This is available as a DVD.
Marita has written more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye, which tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home, was recommended by Book Trust in their guide for One Parent Families. Safe Harbour is the story of two English children evacuated from London during World War ll to live with their grandfather in Greystones, Co Wicklow and was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award. A Girl Called Blue follows the life of an orphan, trying to find who she really is in a cold and strict orphanage. Marita has also explored the world of fantasy with her book In Deep Dark Wood.
Marita has won several awards, including the International Reading Association Award, the Osterreichischer Kinder und Jugendbuchpreis, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto Book of the Year Award.
Marita was always fascinated by the Famine period in Irish history and read everything available on the subject. When she heard a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period being found under a hawthorn tree, she decided to write her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree.
Published in May 1990, the book was an immediate success and become a classic. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Bahasa, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils. It has been made a supplementary curriculum reader in many schools and is also used by schools in Northern Ireland for EMU (Education through Mutual Understanding) projects. It was also filmed by Young Irish Film Makers, in association with RTÉ and Channel 4. This is available as a DVD.
Marita has written more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye, which tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home, was recommended by Book Trust in their guide for One Parent Families. Safe Harbour is the story of two English children evacuated from London during World War ll to live with their grandfather in Greystones, Co Wicklow and was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award. A Girl Called Blue follows the life of an orphan, trying to find who she really is in a cold and strict orphanage. Marita has also explored the world of fantasy with her book In Deep Dark Wood.
Marita has won several awards, including the International Reading Association Award, the Osterreichischer Kinder und Jugendbuchpreis, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto Book of the Year Award.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 27, 2022
I read this to Sophie (10) so this is her review.
When I closed the book and said “Well?”
She said, is that it?
I want another one. Quick check did she write a sequel!
I had barely finished the sentence “how many sta…”
“5!!!”
I really enjoyed it too 😉❤️
When I closed the book and said “Well?”
She said, is that it?
I want another one. Quick check did she write a sequel!
I had barely finished the sentence “how many sta…”
“5!!!”
I really enjoyed it too 😉❤️
September 8, 2017
While it might be a tad slow for some, I liked it. I liked the imagery of Ireland's countryside, as well as the character of of their grandfather.
July 14, 2024
کتاب رو صوتی گوش دادم
در مورد خواهر و برادری که در زمان بمباران لندن در جنگ جهانی دوم هنگامی که مادرش مصدوم و در بیمارستان بستری میشود پیش پدربزرگی که تا به حال ندیده اند در ایرلند میروند.
تو این سبک داستان کتاب جنگی که نجاتم داد بسیار قشنگتر هست
البته این کتاب امیدبخشتر و بسیار کمتر غمناکتر هست.
اما من جنگی که نجاتم داد رو یک جور دیگه دوست دارم و به بقیه معرفیش میکنم.
در مورد خواهر و برادری که در زمان بمباران لندن در جنگ جهانی دوم هنگامی که مادرش مصدوم و در بیمارستان بستری میشود پیش پدربزرگی که تا به حال ندیده اند در ایرلند میروند.
تو این سبک داستان کتاب جنگی که نجاتم داد بسیار قشنگتر هست
البته این کتاب امیدبخشتر و بسیار کمتر غمناکتر هست.
اما من جنگی که نجاتم داد رو یک جور دیگه دوست دارم و به بقیه معرفیش میکنم.
April 17, 2020
Truly touching tale. Finely crafted
June 9, 2023
A little graphic and upsetting at times, but this is completely necessary and handled well. A beautiful, heart-wrenching tale that is as timely today as it is timeless.
October 24, 2025
I love maritas writing. I always feel so deeply submerged in her stories
May 25, 2016
In my opinion this book is ranked in my top 10 books
ever and I am 12 years old and this book is not full of
action and I am the person who loves action books and
comics but this book was amazing Im still currently reading
it so I can't wait for the rest !
ever and I am 12 years old and this book is not full of
action and I am the person who loves action books and
comics but this book was amazing Im still currently reading
it so I can't wait for the rest !
April 11, 2009
A book I really enjoyed when I was young. The story is one I have not read in a long time.
August 2, 2012
Weirdly I remember reading this book when I was about 9! Haven't read it in a long time :) Good story from what I remember ..
April 20, 2017
Marita Conlon-McKenna writes so beautifully, with sparse detail that somehow can still be pictured. An absolute delight to read.
April 27, 2018
An incredibly well-written account of the London Blitz and evacuation from a child's perspective. Marita Conlon-McKenna really knows her target audience and writes with excellent detail and description. You actually become her characters as the story progresses. Loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews